After serving 10 years as associate director for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Columbia Union Conference’s Office of Education, and seven years as associate Superintendent of Schools for the Potomac Conference, Evelyn Sullivan will soon leave her position at the union.

“Our hope is that when we recognize and show gratitude to individuals who are [providing] exemplary contributions, other leaders are inspired to value excellence in their pursuits for God and His Church,” says Debra Brill, NAD’s vice president for Ministries and event organizer.

Zainab Chaudry, Maryland outreach director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, “I feel like it is very important to have these kind of events, especially on days like today—Religious Freedom Day—Because it is a reminder of the work that needs to be done to continue to protect religious freedom and religious pluralism in our country, especially when so many houses of worship and so many faith communities are being targeted by hatred, bigotry and intolerance. … It is an affirmation of our shared values towards one another’s liberty and existence and security.”

Twenty years ago, the eight conferences within the Columbia Union Conference provided signi cant funds to help meet a new North American Division (NAD) policy that revolving funds across the division should maintain a minimum of 25 percent of their monies in capital reserves.